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Homemade Gifts for the Holidays

Still have people on your shopping list? Skip the lines and try one of these homemade gifts for a more personalized holiday this year. Click on the images for the specific posts.

Homemade Gifts for the Baker: Vanilla Extract

Homemade Vanilla Extract is super simple. It’s just alcohol and vanilla beans, but once bottled, it’s a super classy gift that the baker in your life will appreciate.

Homemade Gifts for Cooks & Tea Lovers: Dehydrated Citrus

Your whole house will smell like Christmas morning as the citrus dehydrates in the oven. Use these as garnishes for all of your gift wrapping, or as a present to the cook or tea lover in your life.

Homemade Gifts for Sipping: Local Honey & Tea Sets

If you still have winter gifts to create, give these a whirl, or if a beekeeper gives you a gift of honey, thank him or her for suffering all those stings because the result is ever so sweet!

Homemade Gifts for the Cocktail Connoisseurs: Homemade Bitters

By definition, bitters are bitter and aromatic herbs and spice infusions in tinctures or spirits. You’re probably familiar with the bar staples: Peychaud’s and Angostura bitters, but these homemade Meyer lemon & orange bitters will really impress! For an extra special touch, pair the bitters with a local spirit.

Homemade Gifts for Self Care: Sea Salt Foot Soak

Let’s face it- our feet take quite the beating! Show your tootsies some love and gratitude with this DIY Sea Salt Foot Soak. Or, give the jar as a gift to someone in need of a little self pampering (Ie: everyone in your life!).

Homemade Gifts for Self Care: Cake Inspired Sugar Scrubs

Exfoliation is a necessary step to keep skin glowing, and making a homemade sugar scrub, it turns out, is easy- just mix the ingredients in a bowl, transfer to a jar, and … that’s it!

Homemade Gifts for Self Care: Sea Salt Hair Scrub

This sea salt scrub helps to detox the scalp, reduce dandruff and bring life back to oily hair. Plus, much like a trip to the ocean, after using this salt scrub, hair has incredible waves and texture.

Homemade Gifts for Self Care: Homemade Dry Shampoo

Everyone could use a little more time in the mornings, which is where Dry Shampoo comes into play. Friends will be extra impressed that you made it from all natural ingredients.

Homemade Gifts for Self Care: Conditioning Spray

Here’s another way to help friends and family pamper themselves. Apple cider vinegar balances hair’s pH levels, is antibacterial and naturally conditions, and this combination includes essential oils and chamomile to reduce the potent smell of ACV for a more manageable and natural DIY haircare routine.

Homemade Gifts for the Home: Essential Oil Diffuser

You can put this DIY Essential Oil Diffuser together easily and give the gift of a natural aromatherapy boost to friends and family.

That’s it! I hope you enjoy putting these homemade gifts together. If you need something to keep you merry as you plug away at final holiday preparations, might I suggest some of these sips?

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About Me!

I'm the recipe developer, stylist, photographer and crazy dog lady behind With The Grains. I believe there's magic in baking bread, whipping cream and setting the table a little differently each time. I believe true health begins in the soil, is nurtured organically and should arrive at our tables with great care. Whether you're vegan, gluten-free or eat meat, you'll find a recipe here for you, so I hope you will join me in this conversation.

“The Rustbelt Farmer”

He has a name, but around here, I simply refer to him as “The Rustbelt Farmer.” I met him just as his urban farm dreams were taking shape, and I fell head over dirty boots for him. When I'm not in the kitchen or behind a camera, I try to be digging in the dirt alongside him. He inspires many a recipe.

The Kitchen Assistant / The Farmpaw

Never one to let a fallen crumb go to waste, Julep is always close to the kitchen action. When she's not sniffing around the photo sets, she is working overtime to keep the groundhogs from eating all the Urban Farmer's produce.